Milk Depot development full cream ahead

A BRISBANE-BASED developer will transform the site of the old milk factory in North Booval into a multi-million dollar planned community that will combine aged care with childcare, despite initial objections surrounding the development.

The "circle of life" development will include retirement living, aged care, respite care, a medical centre and retail space, as well as the soon-to-open Kaleidoscope Kids childcare centre on the 3.7ha former industrial site.

The dairy factory that previously inhabited the site for much of the century closed its doors in 2012, with the site being acquired in 2015 for more than $3 million.

Developer Manos Saridakis said he had examined the needs of the Ipswich community, and the latest multi-tiered project came up trumps.

"We're going for a community feel, and I believe in building useful projects. We hope this project will be able to give back to Ipswich and provide much-needed services to the city," he said.

The development is in part inspired by Dutch and Tasmanian aged-care villages, which provide enough onsite facilities to allow residents pedestrian access to essential services such as shops and parks, improving quality of life.

Developers of the master-planned project hopeto break ground within six months, with more than 300 resort-style independent living units spread across several six-level blocks planned for the site.

In addition to the units, which will be pitched at the growing over-55s market, acute aged care will be offered in a 150-bed facility, which will feature eight beds of palliative care, eight beds of bariatric obesity care and an American-style dementia village.

The major development on the corner of Jacaranda and Cook streets had raised concerns for nearby residents in 2016, with objections made about the density of the proposed units and the lack of green and communal spaces planned between buildings.

"We have reviewed community feedback and revised the plan to include a 2000sqm park, as well as additional green space between buildings," Mr Saridakis said.